During a recent Scottsdale city council meeting, concerns were raised regarding the rushed redrafting of ballot language for a proposed $1.2 billion, 30-year tax program. Council members expressed apprehension that residents were being \"railroaded\" into accepting changes without adequate time for review. The urgency of the revisions, presented at the last minute, has sparked fears about transparency and trust in local government.

One council member highlighted the importance of ensuring that the new ballot language has been thoroughly vetted, noting that the changes could undermine the residents' ability to submit pro and con arguments based on the original ballot measure description. The council member emphasized that the community should have the same opportunity to engage with the new draft as they did with the previous version.

Additionally, there was a call to remove references to a 1995 tax from the current ballot measure, which some members deemed irrelevant. The discussion pointed to a need for clarity and relevance in the language used, particularly in light of recent court decisions that may impact the tax proposal's validity.

The meeting underscored the council's responsibility to maintain open communication with residents and to ensure that any changes to significant tax measures are made transparently and with ample opportunity for public input.